Cap feeding device



37 ILT F /0 j /z 34 Il 'mi i 4| 9 6; z i 1 f 3 44 l /f fr W\ l 5 4g M L w tI-IJ l I I lINVENTOR I MLM/M IMM/DY f Oct. 17, 1939. w. J. MUNDY CAP FEEDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ. 5 i

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Oct. 17, 1939. w. J. MUNDY CAP FEEDING DEVICE Filed Jau.l 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet' 2 INVENTOR 'WILLIAM f/ UNDY l ua HTroR/VEY Oct. 17, 1939. l w. J. M UNDY 2,176,659

CAP FEEDING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 2, 1936 3 Shleets-Sheet 3 6 F |G.5.

2A.; K 9 f5 f I NvENToR W/LL/A di MUA/[PY HTTRNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNlTED STATES PAENT CIAP FEEDING DEVICE Application January 2, 1936, Serial No. 57,174

10 Claims.

My invention relates to cap feeding devices and more particularly to such devices as are used to feed properly caps to can capping Inachines.

Usually, the caps fed to and used by capping machines have a top and a bottom of different surface contours. That is, the bottom usually has an external or internal flange adapted to engage the outer or inner side, respectively, of the end of a can. In some cases the top of a cap is flat, but in other cases, particularly, where an internal flange is provided, the top of a cap has a surface contour which is the reverse of that of the bottom. l

The caps to be fed usually are dumped into a hopper or bin from which they are expelled by some suitable expedient in a row along a track. Of course, some of the caps are in rows right side up, that is, positioned to be fed directly to the capping machine and others are wrong side up and must be inverted before being fed to the machine. Although, heretofore, several different devices have been made to position properly the caps on the track or conveyor along which they move to the capping machine, such expedients have been inefcient and could not be relied upon to accomplish the desired result. If the caps are put on the track by hand the cost of operation of the capping machine is increased greatly by this additional labor.

Therefore, the object of my invention is toV provide a cap feeding device which will positively and automatically assure that all caps delivered therefrom to the capping machine will be in proper relative position.

One embodiment of a device for accomplishing the above object in a manner contemplated by my invention, is shown fully in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters are used to designate similar parts: In these drawings, Fig. l is a top view of the device; Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, along the lines 2--2 in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the lines 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 is a section of the device as indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5, but with some of the parts in different positions from that shown in the other figure; and Figs. 7 and 8 show details of construction as explained hereinafter.

Referring to the figures the embodiment shown therein is adapted to feed caps having a top formed in a plane surface and a bottom having an annular depending flange to engage the outer marginal surface of a can. These caps must be fed, of course, with the plane surface up and the flanged surface down so that the capping machine may place them on the can withoutl changing their position. The device illustrated has a compartment with a circular, upstanding side wall i and a bottom wall formed by a rotatable plate 2. These and other parts of the device are supported on a frame including a foot 3 and vertical rods 4. The side wall I is directly mounted on bracket arms 5 extending from the rods il. The rotatable shaft 6, carrying the plate 2, is mounted in an upper bearing supported by the cross arms l extending between the rods and by a boss 8 formed in the foot 3. Extending inwardly from and supported by the annular side wall I is a partition S arranged to divide the compartment into a bin into which are dumped caps to be fed and a space in which is mounted various parts of the feeding device, as described below.

Arranged at the outer peripheral edge of the rotatable plate 2 is a rotating brush It fixed to a shaft I l carried by the bracket l2. Leading from the brush at the side thereof away from the bin is a primary track, indicated at I3. This track is formed, in this embodiment, by the inner side of the circular wall, side rails I4 and l5, ar-V ranged generally to follow the contour of the wall I, and by an arcuate shaped top guide strip I6 to prevent the caps from being thrown upwardly away from contact with the side rails. The bottom of the track is formed by the plate 2. The rails I4 and I5 are maintained in place by lingers I 'i extending from the wall I and the top guide strip I5 is carried by angles i8, also carried by the annular wall. It will be evident that when the plate is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, caps in the bin will be carried to the rotating brush IIJ and will be moved in a row into and along the track I3. Preferably, a guide strip i3 is arranged to guide the caps in the bin into contact with the brush lil. A conveyor 2l as arranged to extend from the track i3 as a continuation thereof and to carry the caps from the feeding device to a capping machine, not shown.

Adjacent a portion of the primary track I3 is an auxiliary track 26 which, in this embodiment, is formed by the rail I5 and the partition 9 which are arranged for this purpose. The auxiliary track 2li has a top guide strip Ia and its bottom is formed by the plate 2.

Obviously, as the caps move into the track I3 some will be correctly positioned with the top up and others will be incorrectly positioned with the top down. In this embodiment of my invention the caps which are correctly positioned will move through the track I3 and out on the conveyor 2| but the caps which are incorrectly positioned will be taken out of the row of caps on the track I3 and moved onto the auxiliary track 2G.

To accomplish this result I provide a selector mounted at the junction of the primary track I3 and the auxiliary track 20. This selector, as shown in detail in Figs. and 6, comprises a disc 22 mounted on a ball bearing 23 carried at the lower end of a stub shaft 24 which, in turn, is carried by a bar 25 xed to the side wall I. Preferably, the upper end of the shaft 24 is positioned in a slot 25a whereby the adjustment of the stub shaft 24 and its carried disc 22 may be changed relative to the track along which the caps move. To adjust the selector a lock nut 26 at the upper end of the shaft is loosened and the shaft is moved in the slot 25a into a desired adjusted position and then the lock nut 26 is tightened to hold the parts in such adjusted position.

The disc 22 has formed in its outer periphery a plurality of arcuate shaped recesses 21, each arranged to receive a portion of the side of a cap. As the caps move along th-e track I3 they will be engaged in a recess 21 and will rotate the disc in the direction indicated in Fig. l. Carried on the disc 22 are a plurality of fingers 28 arranged so that each one extends outwardly from the disc substantially centrally of a recess 21. In the embodiment shown the ngers 28 are in the shape of a bell crank and are pivotally mounted at their elbows on blocks 2S. Springs 3U are arranged between the hub 3I of the disc and the upwardly extending part of each finger whereby the lower part of each finger normally will project horizontally outwardly from the disc in a recess 21. Each of the outwardly extending parts of the ngers 28 are notched as indicated at 32 and have an upwardly inclined edge leading outwardly from said notch, as shown.

A cam strip 33 is positioned to engage the upwardly extending parts of the ngers as they move around with the disc and thereby move the fingers to carry the lower part thereof upwardly, all as shown in Fig. 8.

The operation of the selector described above, is as follows: As the caps move along the track I3 they will be engaged successively in one of the recesses 21 of the disc 22 and thereby will rotate the disc. As the disc rotates the upwardly inclined lower edge of a finger 28 associated with a recess engaging a cap will slide along the upper corner edge of the cap so engaged and the spring 30 will be compressed to allow the linger to move into the position shown in Fig. 5. If the Acap is correctly positioned with the plane surface upwardly the nger will be supported in this position until the cap has moved along the track I 3 out of engagement with the recess. However, if the cap is upside down the lower part of the nger will not be so supported but will be moved downwardly by action of its spring to bring the notch 32 into engagement with the flange on the lower side of the cap. As the disc is rotated by other caps being engaged by other recesses in the disc the cap which is upside down will not be allowed to move on in the row along the track I3, but will be carried by the finger out of the row and into a position at the upper end of the auxiliary track 20. When the cap has been carried into this position the cam 33 acting on the finger 28, as described above, will move the finger to release the cap and the cap will be moved along the auxiliary track by rotation of the plate 2.

In the embodiment shown caps from the auxiliary track 2B are delivered to an inverting apparatus consisting of a rotating drum 34 and a flexible strap 35 associated therewith. Normally, the strap 35 is impelled into contact with the outer periphery of the drum 34 by' a spring 36. As a cap moves from the auxiliary track 2l! it will be carried around the drum 34 inside of the strap 35 and when delivered from the drum at the top thereof the cap will be in proper position. The caps so delivered are moved onto a conveyor 31 which, in this embodiment, discharges the properly positioned caps back in-to the bin. However, I contemplate that the feeding device as disclosed herein may be used with two capping machines, with one of the capping machines being fed from the conveyor 2| of the primary track I3 and the other being fed from the conveyor 31.

The various parts of a device embodying my invention may be driven by any suitable expedients, but in the embodiment shown and described herein a power applied to a driving shaft 33. as shown in Fig. 2, will be transmitted through beveled gears 39 and a chain drive 40 to rotate the shaft I carrying the plate 2. Similarly, this power through 'gears 4I and shaft 42 may be transmitted through the chain drives 43 and 44 to the drum 34 and the shaft II of the brush IIl, respectively.

The disc 22 in addition to comprising a part of the selector also will act, in the form shown, as the spacer for the caps moving along the conveyor 2I to the capping machine. Since the disc 22 is not rotated by any force except movement of the caps along the track I3, if the capping machine is stopped or if it does not take caps from the row in the conveyor 2| the rotation of the disc 22 will stop movement of the caps until a cap is taken from the conveyor 2I to allow the row to move forwardly.

Obviously, I do not intend to limit my invention to the particular embodiment shown in the drawings nor do I intend to limit it for use only with the form of cap shown. The size, shape and arrangement of the parts and the expedients used for moving the caps along the tracks and for feeding them into the tracks may be varied within wide limits without deviating from the spirit of my invention. In adapting my invention to devices for feeding caps of shapes other than that shown it may be necessary to change the shape and size of the disc 22 and iingers 28, but, as stated above, I contemplate such changes as long as they come within the ambit of the claims included below.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1; In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pivotally mounted finger arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said nger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track it will pivot to engage firmly a cap presenting a certain predetermined surface contour and movement of said finger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row but when said finger contacts a cap not presenting said predetermined contour said iinger will slide over said cap without pivoting and will not engage therewith.

2. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pivotally mounted finger arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said finger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track it will pivot downwardly to engage firmly a cap presenting a certain predetermined surface contour and movement of said finger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row but when said finger contacts a cap not presenting said predetermined contour said nger will slide over said cap and will not move downwardly to engage therewith.

3. In a devicefor feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pvotally mounted finger arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said finger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track it will pivot to engage firmly a cap presenting a certain predetermined surface contour and movement of said finger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row but when said finger contacts a cap not presenting said predetermined contour said finger will slide over said cap without pivoting and will not engage therewith, and means associated with said finger for moving said finger out of engagement with said predetermined contour on a cap when it has been carried out of said row.

e1.. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pivotally mounted finger arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said finger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track it will pivot downwardly to engage firmly a cap presenting a certain predetermined surface contour and movement of said finger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row but when said finger contacts a cap not presenting said predetermined contour said finger will slide over said cap and will not move downwardly to engage therewith, and means associated with said finger for moving said finger upwardly away from a cap and out of engagement therewith when the cap has been carried out of said row.

5. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom formed with a peripherally extending fiange, a stack for a row of said caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pivoted finger having a notch therein and mounted and arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said finger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track the notch therein will engage the flange on a cap if said cap is positioned to present said fiange to said finger, and movement of said finger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row, but said finger will slide over and will not engage a cap not positioned to present a iiange to said finger and the cap will not be carried out of said ro-W.

6. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom formed with a peripherally extending flange, a track for a row of said caps, means for moving said caps along said track, a pivoted finger having a notch therein and mounted and arranged to be moved in cycles progressively over and away from said track, said finger being arranged and positioned whereby when it is moved over said track the notch therein will engage the fiange on a cap if said cap is positioned to present said fiange to said finger, and movement of said fin-ger away from said track will carry said cap out of said row, but said finger will slide over and will not engage a cap not positioned to present a fiange to said finger and the cap will not be carried out of said row, and means associated with said finger for pivoting said finger to release the flange from said notch when a cap has been carried out of said row.

'7. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a primary track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said primary track, an auxiliary track leading from said primary track, a freely rotatable selector mounted at the junction of said primary and auxiliary tracks, said selector comprising a disc having a plurality of recesses formed and adapted to receive a portion of the edge of one of said caps on said primary tracks whereby when said caps move along said track each will be engaged successively in one of the recesses on said selector and said selector will be rotated by movement of said caps, a plurality of fingers each having a notch therein and carried by said rotatable disc and positioned so that one of said fingers extends outwardly in each of said recesses whereby when said selector is rotated said fingers will move in cycles progressively over and away from said primary track and each of said fingers being positioned and arranged so that as it moves across said primary track it will engage firmly a cap having a predetermined surface contour and as said finger moves away from said primary track it will carry the cap so engaged ofi" of said primary track and onto said auxiliary track.

8. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with different surface contours, a primary track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said primary track, an auxiliary track leading from said primary track, a freely rotatable selector mounted at the junction of said primary and auxiliary tracks, said selector comprising a disc having a plurality of recesses formed in the peripheral edge thereof with each of said recesses formed and adapted to receive a portion of the edge of one of said caps on said primary track whereby when said caps move along said track each will be engaged successively in one of the recesses on said selector and said selector will be rotated by movement of said caps, a plurality of fingers each having a notch therein and carried by said rotatable disc and positioned so that one of said fingers extends outwardly in each of said recesses whereby when said selector is rotated said fingers will move in cycles progressively over and away from said primary track, each of said ngers being positioned and arranged so that as it moves across said primary track it will engage firmly a cap having a predetermined surface contour and as said finger moves away from said primary track it will carry the cap so engaged off of said primary track and onto said auxiliary track, and means to disengage said fingers from said caps carried onto said auxiliary track.

9. In a device for feeding caps having a top and a bottom with .different surface contours, a primary track for a row of caps, means for moving said caps along said primary track, an auxiliary track leading from said primary track, a freely rotatable selector comprising a disc having a plurality of recesses each formed and adapted to receive a portion of the edge of one of said Caps on said primary track, said selector being positioned relative to said primary track so that as said caps move along said track each will be engaged successively in one of said recesses and said selector will be rotated by movement of said caps, a plurality of pivotally mounted ngers carrled by said rotatable disc and positioned so that one of said ingers extends outwardly in each or said recesses whereby when said selector is rotated said fingers will move in cycles progressively over and away fromv said primary track, each of said ngers being positioned and arranged so that as it moves across said primary track it will pivot to engage firmly a cap presenting a certain predetermined surface contour, and as said finger moves away from said primary track said nger will carry said cap off of said primary track onto said auxiliary track, but when said finger contacts a cap not presenting said predetermined contour said linger will slide over said cap without pivoting and will not engage therewith.

10. In a 4device for feeding caps having a top and bottom formed with a perpherally extending flange, a primry track forca row of said caps,

Vmeans for moving said caps along'said primary track, an auxiliary track leading from said primary track, a freely rotatable .selector comprising a disc having aplurality of recesses formed in the peripheral edge ythereof with each of said "ecesses vformed andv adapted to receive a portion of the edge of one ofsaid caps on said primary track, said selector being arranged relative to said Yprimary Ytrack whereby when said caps move it moves over said primary track the notch therein will engage the flange ona cap if said cap is positioned to present said flange to said finger, and as said finger moves away from said track said finger will carry Said cap from said primary track onto said auxiliary track, but saidnger will slide l over and will not engage a cap'not positioned to resent a ange to said iinger and the cap will not be carried out of sadrow.

WILLIAM J. MU'N'DY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,176,659. y October 17, l99.

WILLIAM J. MUNDY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, first column, line 57, claim 5, for the word "stack" read track; and second column, line 25, claim?, for tracks" read track; page bf, first column, line lh, and second column, line l?, claims 9 and lO respectively, for "fingers" read finger; same page, first column, line 29, claim lO., for "primry" read primary; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correc- --tion thereinthat t-he same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December, A. D. 1959.

, Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

